How the pandemic changed a Garth Brooks concert: The empowering joy of hearing God’s voice

Dr. Jim Denison is the CEO of Denison Forum.
His Daily Article and podcast globally reach over 160,000 subscribers. Dr. Denison guides readers to discern today’s news—biblically. He is the author of multiple books and has taught on the philosophy of religion and apologetics at several seminaries. Prior to launching Denison Forum in 2009, he pastored churches in Texas and Georgia. He holds a Ph.D and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jim and his wife, Janet, live in Dallas, Texas. They have two sons and four grandchildren.

My wife and I are longtime Garth Brooks fans. We’ve watched his mammoth television concerts in packed stadiums over the years. Last night, however, we saw him perform in a completely different way.

Brooks and his very talented wife, Trisha Yearwood, sang songs by request for an hour in a small studio accompanied only by his guitar. All proceeds benefited healthcare workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Actor John Krasinski made news this week in a similar way, hosting a very funny new YouTube show called Some Good News. His daughters made the logo. He recorded the show while sitting behind a desk at home. Steve Carell was one of his guests; he did the segment from his home as well.

In the meantime, the most important way you and I can respond to this crisis is to practice the social and physical distancing that is crucial to slowing the spread of the disease. As one study shows, with normal behavior a single infected person will infect 406 people over thirty days. With 50 percent less contact, that person will infect 15 people over thirty days. With 75 percent less contact, that person will infect 2.5 people over thirty days.

A friend reminded me recently that Anne Frank and seven other people hid in a 450-square-foot attic for 761 days, trying to remain undiscovered by the Nazis to stay alive. We can all do what we can do to keep everyone safe through social distancing.

I would add this suggestion: Christians can reframe solitude from a relational challenge to a spiritual opportunity.

As I noted recently, spiritual solitude is an ancient but empowering discipline. When we take time to speak to God and to listen to him, our lives are changed in profound ways. A carpenter must touch the wood he intends to shape; a painter must connect her brush with the canvas. When we are alone with our Father, his Spirit makes us more like his Son (Romans 8:29). This personal connection is indispensable to spiritual growth.

If Jesus needed to begin the day by seeking his Father’s face, so do we (Mark 1:35). If he needed to get alone with the Lord before making major decisions, so do we (Luke 6:12–13). If he needed to pray in crisis, so do we (Matthew 26:36–46).

He adds: “Once you connect with God’s heart free of words and just look at him face to face, his gaze will become one of the most important parts of your life. Knowing experientially that your heavenly Father sees you and loves you is meant to be at the foundation of everything you do.”

As a result, Craig encourages us to “commit yourself to spend time in solitude with God and learn what it is to be a child simply enjoyed by the Father.”